Of Wildflowers and Worries: Living in an Age of Eco-Anxiety

Here in Southern California, fierce winter storms have finally dissolved into a warm springtime, and many thousands of people are totally enraptured by the “super bloom” of wildflowers. Cars clog the usually sparse desert roads in Anza-Borrego, its desert plains no longer barren. Traffic jams form near Lake Elsinore, as city dwellers hop out of their cars to frolic (and take selfies) in the fields of blossoms. They keep coming, people of all cultures, ages, and persuasions; their photos flood social media. I’m thrilled to observe the enthusiasm and wonder for nature, even while ironically noting the extra car trips generated by this enchantment.

Like the wildflowers, the background to this picture is also unusually intense, as our current federal administration threatens to deconstruct many of the laws and agencies protecting both flora and fauna. This only turns up the already existing eco-anxiety to levels heretofore unseen.

Eco-anxiety is exactly what it sounds like: anxiety in response to information that the earth and its ecosystems are suffering. And they are indeed suffering, as evidenced by multitudes of statistics on climate change, melting glaciers, submerging islands, and shrinking freshwater tables; rainforests vanishing into beef farms; extinctions, diminishing open spaces, and rampant poaching; and acidifying seas with radioactive runoff, giant gyres of plastic, and declining fish populations.

Including environmental awareness and anxiety in mental health treatment is a relatively new, but growing, phenomenon. Many of us feel it’s a necessary adaptation of our field in response to changing global circumstances. Sarah Anne Edwards and Linda Buzzell describe a “waking-up syndrome” in which people feel anxiety in response to their growing awareness about what is happening to our natural environment. As Buzzell explains in The Huffington Post, there are “psychological stages people go through as they become fully aware of the extent of the environmental threat. One of these stages involves ‘eco-anxiety,’ a state of persistent fear about the very real crisis we face that can be at the core of many … environmental depressions.”

In previous articles on this site, I’ve written extensively about the autonomic nervous system and its attempts to protect us via the fight, flight, and freeze responses. Eco-anxiety is no different. It is normal to feel intense anxiety at the thought of the web of life disappearing. If it disappears, so do we. What is perhaps normal, but not functional, is to feel such anxiety to the degree we are immobilized and don’t do anything about the problem. (Remember the freeze response—which is closely related to dissociation, depression, and denial.) The problems seem so big and overwhelming we turn away because we don’t feel there’s anything we can really do.

With all that in mind, here are some points I would like to share regarding eco-anxiety and what we can do about it:

All life as we know it is dependent on this fragile biosphere we live in, at least for the immediately foreseeable future. It is normal to feel threatened and upset by unrelenting potential (and actual) devastation of our natural environment. In fact, it is inappropriate to extinguish anxiety (that is, “turn off the fire alarm”) when a major threat continues to loom.

It is totally normal to feel anxiety at the thought of environmental devastation. I know I just said that, but it bears repeating, especially in light of those who would minimize our feelings. “You’re overreacting. It’s just something we have to live with. Humans always find a way to overcome!” Nonsense. All life as we know it is dependent on this fragile biosphere we live in, at least for the immediately foreseeable future. It is normal to feel threatened and upset by unrelenting potential (and actual) devastation of our natural environment. In fact, it is inappropriate to extinguish anxiety (that is, “turn off the fire alarm”) when a major threat continues to loom.

Trauma is a normal reaction to abnormal circumstances. (Credit Dr. Peter Levine for this clarification.) Traumatic stress often includes avoidance of related stimuli. The extent to which our environment is under attack is clearly neither normal nor natural. When something is overwhelming, we turn away because it feels terrible. This is totally understandable, but of course not very effective in neutralizing the threats.

Healing involves moving from helplessness into efficacy. Just like with any trauma, it is healthier (and usually feels much better) to be actively dealing with the problem rather than avoiding it. The trick is getting ourselves mobilized into making this transition.

Taking action involves breaking the huge problem down into manageable parts, then taking on one small part at a time. I’m sure, by now, we can all generate big lists of “things to do that are good for the environment”: Use canvas grocery bags instead of paper or plastic. Walk or bicycle instead of drive. Compost food scraps. Reduce consumption of animal products. Etcetera. In somatic psychotherapy, we like to take a small, gentle action, then “track” or carefully notice the effect on our physical body via the felt sense. So, then! Why not actually go and do one of these small actions, then observe how it makes you feel? One of my favorites is planting native plants—ones that naturally occur in my geographic area. This directly supports local wildlife. I’m in the process of planting my second native plant garden. My first, which still exists at my old house, continues to attract an amazing variety of local fauna: varied and fascinating insects including many species of butterflies, grasshoppers, and ladybugs; hummingbirds, sparrows, and other birds (up to and including hawks!); and possums, skunks, and more. It is very satisfying to observe these animals enjoying a home I directly re-created for them within an urban environment.

The first part of the cure is for people to enjoy spending time in nature. Nature is not just for little kids, to be discarded like a worn-out child’s toy when the child grows into the “sophistications” of adulthood. It is normal and (fortunately) common to draw great comfort and ease from many aspects of being in nature. Many studies have shown improvements in task performance, or reduction in depression scores, with simple exposures to natural objects such as trees.

So why not? Get out there and recharge your battery—allow nature to help you feel good. For people who have a difficult time experiencing nature due to mobility, economic, or logistical issues, nature can come to you, often very simply: You can watch one of many television programs by Sir David Attenborough, treasured naturalist of the United Kingdom. Or, find a plant that smells good, or a flower that brings you enjoyment—even a photograph of a flower or nature scene. Contemplate it for a while. Or, observe the ways in which nature finds a way in the big city: green sprouts growing through pavement, sparrows swooping and twittering in the park trees, ants hustling to bring food into their nest under a sidewalk. Notice how you feel in your body as you make these observations. Share this with your friends and family. And as we say in somatic therapy, “See what happens next!”

This is how it begins. Many famous activists never dreamed they’d be fighting for change; they simply connected with what was important to them and allowed passion and circumstance to guide them. I invite you to leave a comment here about your favorite nature place and how it affects you.

The preceding article was solely written by the author named above. Any views and opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by GoodTherapy.org. Questions or concerns about the preceding article can be directed to the author or posted as a comment below.

Scott

March 21st, 2017 at
7:31 AM

Given that the current administration genuinely has no concerns about climate change and the environment then it is an understatement to note that we should all be on eco high alert. There is so much that we are set to lose environmentally within the next ten to twenty years if someone doesn’t step up and support this cause. Life will not continue to be sustainable if we continue down this path.

Andrea Bell, LCSW

March 21st, 2017 at
10:01 AM

Scott, I agree. I’d also add that it’s normal to feel sad and upset by all that we stand to lose. These are normal reactions to threatened or actual loss. What soul nourishment do you (and by “you” I also mean “all of us” need, in order to be that “someone” who steps up?

Scott

March 22nd, 2017 at
7:45 AM

I don’t know, you know, because I guess in my mind I never honestly thought that we would get to this point. It makes me sad because I know that I am not the only one who feels like this, but then you look around and wonder what difference the opinions of one person are going to make?
I thought that this was kind of a done deal, climate change is real and now what are we going to do to preserve this glorious planet. I never thought that collectively we (not me, but you know what I mean) would bring into office someone who believes the exact opposite and doesn’t care that the planet is gonna go to Hades in a handbasket.

Andrea Bell, LCSW

March 22nd, 2017 at
8:14 PM

Scott, I don’t blame you for the betrayal, shock, sadness and sense of individual helplessness I am hearing in your post. I too share some of those feelings myself. As a fellow human being, I feel that there is a time to sit with those feelings and just feel them, to the best of our ability. To help our minds, hearts and bodies begin to metabolize the horror. Hopefully this will allow us to begin to heal, and then to move forward to protect the places and creatures we love; to preserve them for the animals and for our future generations.

Tenille

March 22nd, 2017 at
11:08 AM

There is a tendency to want to voice our concerns without really ever doing all that much about it. If this is something that interests and concerns you though, now is the time to not even think about giving up, but to rather get involved and stay involved so that we can make our voices the ones that are heard.

Andrea Bell, LCSW

haven

March 23rd, 2017 at
11:15 AM

I get frustrated because I have other people in my life who act like I am the crazy one for simply wanting to safeguard what is so beautiful about our planet.
Aren’t they the ones who have buried their heads though and who refuse to see that this is a very big deal, and that without care things are only going to get worse, and fast?

Andrea Bell, LCSW

March 23rd, 2017 at
2:55 PM

Hello Haven,
Although I can’t comment specifically on any particular person who might be burying their head…. I can say that in general, people tend to do that when they are overwhelmed. They turn away to avoid the pain. I think we can all empathize with that tendency, and I think empathy is the necessary beginning in how to move through it and towards effective action.
Additionally, we live in a culture that values nature and our ecosystems a little bit, but not nearly enough; and we are all steeped in that cultural influence, the subtext of “how things are done”. There are many thousands of people excited to go see the wildflowers, and who go to zoos every day. We care–it’s innate in us to care. But the predominant cultural influence, at least implicitly, “business as usual” tends to be that nature is to be used for our benefit, then discarded. Let’s note that the saying “the bottom line” does not refer to whether or not we survive, or whether we are happy–it refers to how much money we are making.
So perhaps we can keep that in mind as we see people around us essentially going along with what is going to be wide scale suicide if we keep it up. We can’t force people to change their ways–many activists have tried and failed, as people shut off in response to being yelled at. However, Nature herself is by far the most powerful persuader. People open up to Nature because we belong to it. This is why I try to proceed with patience, empathy and showing people the beauty of what’s possible.

Elaine m

November 28th, 2017 at
2:09 PM

I’m having my kitchen remodeled and although Some of the cabinets were able to be reused out went the flooring and stove – still in good condition, but not acceptable donations. It’s really a dilemma because aside from my desires to improve my space there are benefits to the economy- cabinet makers, retailers, contractors, etc.
It’s very difficult to square this with my environmental concerns. What do I do to cope with this anxiety? I meditate on the presence of a better way of living that technology can bring about. Innovations do exist. Hopefully they will become marketable and solve some of the waste and energy problems. I also think in metaphysical terms in that it requires divine intervention . If many people begin to engage their hearts and minds on a daily basis it is possible to shift the energy (to more sensible mindsets) en mass when the scales tip in the desired direction of the whole.

Andrea Bell, LCSW

November 29th, 2017 at
5:34 PM

Hi Elaine,
I’m not certain where you live, but many places do have ways to reuse or recycle old household materials like that. Some choose to sell or give them away on sites like Craigslist or NextDoor, so as to reduce the demand for new materials.
I really like what you say about people engaging their hearts and their minds to shift the energy to more sensible (sustainable) mindsets. It’s my belief that at this point, each of us has to take the individual responsibility to do so, even as we encourage the larger manufacturers to support this effort on a bigger scale. Thank you for your comment! Your thoughtfulness shows that this shift is indeed starting to take place at the individual level. I send you all the encouragement I can, to continue heeding it and acting on it in a responsible manner.

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